Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter One
Title: The Heart's True Home
Author: Silmarien
Rating: PG
A/N- A special note For The Power of the Book from Davan: Denial.... mmmm.. *slow smile* I have it on VERY good authority she belongs to me once this whole thing is over... so if you can wait just a *little* bit longer she is OURS. (I am willing to share with my fellow witch hater. Being the only other person who doesn't call her by her name... you have a free pass to the slaughter *hands over pass* *grins* just a few chapters left...
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Masked Preparations
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Valia had no idea how it had happened, but it seemed as if all her friends had ended up crammed into her chambers to prepare themselves for the swift approaching dance. Silia had been the first to come; a lady in waiting had been following her who had carried the dress Silia was going to wear that night along with anything else she could possibly need to get ready. Cithien was the next to arrive. As Valia had stored the elleth's dress in her wardrobe since Cithien had no where suitable in her own small room to keep it, Valia had suggested that she should simply get ready with her and Silia anyway.
The last arrival was the one Valia had not expected at all. She had not even had the slightest inkling that she would appear till a knock sounded on the door to her sitting room and she opened it to find Elowen standing outside with a goodly sized group of four handmaidens behind her.
Hardly in the position to object, even if she had wanted to, which she did not, Valia moved aside and let the Queen take control of the preparations that were all ready underway in the room. Elowen assigned each of the handmaidens behind her to a specific lady to assist them in getting ready for the fast approaching masquerade.
Valia had been whisked away behind a changing screen before she had time to formulate any sound protest, and her dress soon followed, after which she was ordered to put it on. Elrond had truly outdone himself in the ordering of her dress, Valia decided, when she finally stood in front of the mirror to look at herself. It was one of the simpler costumes that she had seen in all the shops she had been to with Cithien and Silia on their search for their own dresses. A white silk bodice, fitted tightly to her form, was edged in crème thread and embroidered in leaf shaped patterns along the thick border of folded fabric along the straight neckline. The skirting of the dress began just over her hips, flaring out from under the fitted bodice in a full bodied skirt of green silk whose color shamed the dazzling green of the leafy plants outside. White glitter was speckled along the hem in a thick band that looked like stardust against a sky of deep green.
Her handmaiden buckled a belt around her middle to transition the change in color from green to white as Valia looked critically at herself. Cocking her head, Valia fingered the green and white fabric on the belt that had been contorted into a perfect replica of a vine of morning glories.
Green gloves that shimmered with sparkles of white when it caught the light climbed to just above her elbows, encrusted along the edges with a generous portion of white gems. A delicate looking mask that had the same working of vines and morning glories as her belt did, only in a much smaller pattern, small vines and flowers to entwine among the braids and loose curls of her hair, a green and white fan, and green slippers that matched her dress color to perfection were the rest of the ensemble she had yet to put on.
The handmaiden assigned to supervise her preparation had just gotten her into her vanity chair to begin arranging her hair when a knock came at her door. As everyone else was in various states of undress or busy attending the Queen and her friends, Valia rose and swiftly crossed the floor to open the door.
Glorfindel stood outside, a small white box tied with a red ribbon clasped in his hands. Beckoning her outside, he stepped back, waiting till she had come out and shut the door behind her before he extended the box to her.
A moment of unmoving silence transpired before Valia gave him a quizzical look, but took the box from him. 'What is it?' she asked, running her fingers over the silky texture of the ribbon, though she was not able to feel it through the gloves that now encased her fingers.
'It is for Cithien,' Glorfindel explained, making a helpless gesture with his hands.
'For Cithien?' A bright smile lit Valia's face as she looked at the box she was holding with renewed interest. She shook it, attempting to determine what was in it by the sound, but there was a disappointing lack of noise.
Glorfindel raised a brow, laughing at her frown. 'Serves you right for sticking your nose into things that are not your business,' he admonished lightly, while softly tapping her nose with a finger.
'Glorfindel,' she protested, giving him her best pout. 'Are you not going to tell me what it is?'
He narrowed his eyes, glancing over her form as his brow lifted even higher. 'And why would I do that?' His action and words made her feel every inch the little elfling she had been millennia ago, but she bore it all with a graceful smile.
'Because I have always been your favorite elf since you held me in your arms when I was too small to even walk on my own.' She had not known him for that long to not learn the best ways of manipulating him, and she knew that what she had said had a flawless record for results in the past. But deciding it was better safe than sorry, she added, 'Besides, I suspect that you wish me to deliver this to Cithien. You may consider it payment to ensure that it arrives safely.'
Glorfindel thinned his lips into a tight line, shaking his head in bemusement as one corner of his mouth quirked upward. 'You are shameless,' he scowled, though his tone was laced with genuine affection.
'It is why you love me so much,' Valia retorted cheekily. 'Now what is it?' She glanced down at the box again, cradled gently between her hands as if it would break if she held it any tighter.
Smiling, Glorfindel ran his fingers over the ribbon. 'It is for her to wear tonight,' he told Valia.
'Ah!' Valia exclaimed in understanding. Such a gift was a clear sign of intension, and Valia could not help but grin in happiness up at Glorfindel. 'She will be delighted,' Valia assured him.
At his look of relief, albeit a faint change in expression to any who had not known him long years, Valia laughed and threw a free hand around his neck to give him a hug. 'You have won her heart, Glorfindel, in no time at all.'
'It is only fitting,' he replied, pulling back from her, but still keeping his hands circled around her waist. 'Since she won mine in an audaciously short amount of time.'
Valia smiled and reached up to tug one of his locks of golden hair that had spilled over his shoulder. 'Should you not be in your room dressing for tonight?' she asked, glancing over his usual attire that consisted of a formal, yet comfortable, robe and leggings tucked into leather boots.
'Ah yes,' he answered absently, stepping back and glancing surreptitiously over his shoulder to his open door. A male attendant stood within Glorfindel's chambers, waiting for him to return so that he could assist the elf lord get ready for the evening. Glorfindel turned back to Valia, eyes twinkling as he looked down at her. 'I could not resist the chance that I might get a glimpse of your outfit, though,' he grinned, winking at her as he looked pointedly at her dress. 'You were so adamant about keeping it a secret these past weeks.'
'You are incorrigible,' Valia sighed, but obliged him by twirling around so her full skirts flared out around her ankles like a blossoming green flower. 'What do you think?'
Taking her arm, Glorfindel bestowed an affectionate smile on her, guiding her back towards her door. 'I think that a certain elven prince will be left speechless tonight when he sees you,' he whispered into her ear, at the same time reaching past her to open her door and shove her inside. He promptly closed it when she passed through, giving him time to hear only her gasp of indignation before he shut the door and made a swift retreat across the hall to his own chambers.
Valia was left leaning against the solid wood of her door, face flushed with Glorfindel's recent suggestion and the white box clutched to her chest as eight pairs of eyes fixed on her with varied degrees of interest.
'What do you have there?' Elowen asked, waving aside the attendant who was fussing over her all ready styled hair and rising from her seat. Valia smiled at the Queen as she approached in a gossamer gown of silver and white that shimmered as she moved to make her look like one of the Maiar.
'It is a gift for Cithien,' Valia informed both the Queen and interested onlookers, who all stilled in their various activities at the mention of a gift.
'For me?' Cithien asked, obvious doubt lacing her words as she approached Valia in a flutter of swan wings and white silk.
Valia drew her bottom lip between her teeth and quickly bit down in her excitement, nodding her head vigorously while Cithien drew near and paused hesitantly in front of her, eyeing the slender white box that Valia held close.
'From Glorfindel,' Valia elaborated as she handed the box over.
Cithien took the box, holding it in her hands as she ran her fingers over it before glancing at Valia and Elowen, both of whom were nodding their encouragements.
'Open it, dear,' Silia prompted from behind her, passing the hesitant maiden to stand beside Valia. The tinkling of Silia's skirts caught Valia's attention, and she scanned her friend's attire. She had known what Silia was going to wear, having been there when the outfit was bought, but seeing the costume on Silia was quite different. She was dressed in a modest gypsy costume that the humans of Middle-earth wore, but the rich materials and baubles that made the dress leant a distinct elvish quality to it.
A small smile broke through the cloud of uncertainty on Cithien's face, and she slipped the vibrant red ribbon off the box, looping it over her arm before she opened the lid and looked inside. Impatience, though a vice that was not common among the Firstborn, hung thick in the air as everyone leaned forward to try and catch a glimpse of what lay within.
Luckily, they were not long in waiting as a sharp intake of breath came from Cithien before she pulled out the object and set the white box and ribbon on a table at her side. A thin silver chain, its delicacy speaking for the excellent craftsmanship of the piece, dangled from her fingers, catching the light of the candles in the room and reflecting the light back in glints of silver. One teardrop diamond, set in the breast of a silver shaped swan with extended wings, lay across the milky white expanse of Cithien's palm as she held it out for her cluster of curious companions to see.
'O Cithien!' exclaimed Silia, reaching out and running her fingertips over the silver swan.
An elegant brow lifted over one of Elowen's green eyes as she watched the diamond sparkle colored rainbow patterns on the wall. 'Well Glorfindel has certainly made his intentions clear,' she spoke with a faint smile on her lips.
Valia watched with concern as Cithien's eyes widened in an emotion that was only slightly less fervent than full blown panic. 'I could not possibly accept this,' she exclaimed, thrusting the necklace at Valia with a pleading expression. 'You must give it back to him.'
'Why whatever are you talking about, my dear?' Elowen interceded. She plucked the extended necklace from Cithien's hand and took the young lady's arm, guiding her to the full length mirror that had been brought into the room. 'Now,' Elowen spoke from behind Cithien, adjusting the smaller elf maiden so that she was looking in the mirror at herself, 'of course you can accept Lord Glorfindel's gift to you.' She reached around Cithien and the silver swan fell against the creamy expanse of the elf maiden's neck that was left exposed by her costume. Elowen deftly fastened the clasp on the delicate silver chain, before adjusting the necklace till it was centered.
'It matches your outfit perfectly,' Silia commented as she and Valia approached, the friend's exchanging a look with each other. 'One would wonder how that happened,' she continued with a mischievous glint in the depths of her eyes.
Cithien reached up and ran her fingers along the diamond studded swan, examining herself closely in the mirror and trying to stop the spread of pink from spreading any further in her cheeks. 'It is too much, though,' she feebly protested.
'Surely not,' Valia countered, stepping between Cithien and the mirror to cut off the critical self examination going on. 'Have you two spoken yet of your… relationship?'
The hand that had been stroking the silver swan dropped to Cithien's side and she nodded in confirmation.
'Well then I assume this gift should not come as a surprise?' prodded Valia.
'No,' Cithien replied, drawing the word out slowly. 'I suppose not.' The elven lady shifted uncomfortably, sending the feathers that decorated her gown into a soft flutter of protest.
Her three companions exchanged satisfied smiles, and Valia stepped forward and took Cithien's hands in her own. 'Then surely you will accept his gift. Your refusal or acceptance of this necklace holds a certain significance that will affect your future,' Valia plunged ahead with a sort of reckless abandon. Hopefully, Glorfindel would forgive her for interfering in this matter since her actions were in his best interests, as well as Cithien's. Valia did not often fall into the role of matchmaker, usually reserving that role to other elf ladies who enjoyed such amusements, but in this case she decided that it was well worth it to act out of the ordinary.
Cithien pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, breathing deeply before she raised her gaze to meet Valia's that sparkled with determination. 'Very well,' agreed Cithien, a faint smile slowly growing along the curves of her mouth. 'I will wear it.'
'Wonderful!' the Queen proclaimed. She then swiftly turned her attention to Valia, who was the only one still not ready for the Masquerade. 'We have just enough time left to finish getting you ready, I think,' Elowen told her, whisking her away to the vanity chair with Cithien and Silia trailing in their wake.
The attendant who had previously attempted to start arranging Valia's hair set to work with the Queen's own personal attendant, quickly yet effectively weaving well placed braids into Valia's hair. Another attendant took an iron rod out of the fireplace after the braids were done and lock by lock, the rest of Valia's hair was wrapped around the rod to be curled.
'Something is missing, I think,' Silia mussed, cocking her head at Valia who at the moment was attempting not to grimace in pain as the attendants pulled at her hair, curling and pinning the pieces atop her head.
'I fear if I wear anything more, I will look like a peacock!' protested Valia.
'Nonsense,' Elowen cut in, moving to the side of the vanity, her gossamer skirts making a soft rustling. 'Master Elrond has provided you with a very elegant outfit, but it is not nearly as embellished as most. Perhaps some piece of jewelry would add the right touch?' The question was directed at Silia and Cithien, who both nodded in agreement.
'But I do not own many pieces of jewelry,' Valia interjected in protest. She was the one who would have to wear her outfit, after all. She grasped the round knob of her vanity drawer, opening it to prove her point. Only a sparse amount of jewels rested in the drawer, none of which where what Elowen or Silia had in mind for Valia's outfit.
Elowen and Silia refused to be deterred, however, and set to work wading through the small collection of necklaces, bracelets, broaches, and a few rings.
'I do not think any of those would work,' came Cithien's soft voice as she observed the fine metals and jewels that were pulled out from their resting places in the drawer.
'I am inclined to agree,' Elowen replied. Placing the thin necklace chain she had been looking at back in its spot, she sighed and picked up a small box lying on top of the vanity.
'Only you would not have some piece of jewelry to wear, Valia,' Silia commented in amusement.
Valia threw her friend a dry look as the last of her braids were being coaxed into place by the attendants. 'Perhaps I can tie a book round my neck?' she asked with a sparkle in her eyes. 'I must surely have one of them that would match my outfit.'
Silia favored the suggestion with a heavy sigh and roll of her eyes. 'She is hopeless!' she cried in exasperation.
'Ah!' an exclaim came from Elowen and everyone turned to look at the Queen who had taken off the lid of the box she had been rotating around in her hands and was now peering inside. 'Maybe she is not so hopeless after all. My dear Valia, this matches your gown perfectly. Why is it in here and not in your hair?' Elowen asked, plucking the diamond and emerald hairpin out of the box.
Silia, who immediately recognized the crafted hairpin, shot Valia an intense look. Why had Valia brought that pin with her to Laiquarille and what was it doing lying in a box out in the open for anyone to stumble upon? A smile slowly tweaked the corner of her lips upwards. 'You must make her wear it, Queen Elowen' Silia told Legolas' mother.
Something that could only be labeled as a squeak of protest fell from Valia's lips as she watched in dread as Elowen handed the pin to an attendant and then motioned for her to put the hairpin in. It was nestled at the center of a curling vine that had been entwined in her hair before Valia could think of any reasonable excuse she could use to not wear it.
'That is just what the outfit needed,' Elowen declared as the attendants stepped back discreetly. 'You look wonderful, Valia.'
'Thank you, my lady,' Valia managed to acknowledge before she bestowed a less than pleased look on Silia. She could not wear Legolas' pin to the Masquerade! What would he think if he found her sometime during the dancing and saw it in her hair. To him, it would be an obvious proclamation on her part that she wished for him to recognize her.
And that fact could produce a wealth of other conclusions on his part that Valia did not want him thinking.
True, she was past the point where she could pretend that there were no feelings other than mutual respect between them. No, she had accepted the fact that she still loved him and that he loved her in return.
Love.
She let a wistful smile play across her face as the attendants scurried into a flurry of activity when a knock came at the door to inform the Queen that the Masquerade was to start shortly. As Valia slipped her feet into her green slippers and tied the silk cord of her fan around her wrist, an attendant fussed over the ties of her mask that had been affixed over her face.
Despite all the activity around her, Valia's thoughts continued to buzz around in her head like a persistent bee, refusing to be dismissed so easily. Perhaps she could just take the pin out of her hair when she arrived at the ballroom and Silia and Elowen were not looking? No, that would not do. Where would she put it for the rest of the night? Valia tried to console herself with the idea that Legolas may not approach her even if he saw the pin in her hair.
After they had returned from the waterfall and picnic yesterday, Legolas and she had avoided each other somewhat. They both had issues to think through, and Valia thought that it was for the best that Legolas did not try to engage her in a conversation at dinner or afterwards like he normally had over the past days. At first, Valia had been shocked when she thought about how forward she must have seemed. But then, Legolas had not exactly been passive, either.
She did not regret their time together at the waterfall. In fact, she secretly wished that his parents had not interrupted them when they had. However, she would never admit that to anyone else. The entire day had been a lovely gift that Valia thanked the Valar for granting to her.
Now that she was back at the palace, though, circumstances were quite different. Valia could not push aside the fact that he was betrothed as easily as she had done yesterday. She could not ignore the fact that in the near future, she would have to ride away from Laiquarille, and consequently Legolas, to return home to Earsilme.
A sigh of frustration pushed its way out of her.
Why did life have to be so sickeningly complicated sometimes?
'Are you well, my lady?' Her attendant was looking down at her having finished with her mask only to find that her lady's brows were pushed together to form a crease of frustration as she frowned down at her slipper clad feet.
'I am well,' Valia assured, a smile sliding across her face as she rose from her chair. 'Thank you for your help,' she told the attendant, taking up one of the young elf maiden's hands and gently squeezing it.
'You are most welcome, Lady Valia,' the attendant returned, dipping into a small curtsey that made Valia uncomfortable in its formality. 'May I be so bold as to say that you look so lovely tonight that I am sure even the Prince himself will notice you?'
At the unexpected mention of Legolas, Valia glanced cautiously at the young attendant. The girl seemed sincere enough, however, and the tense lines of Valia's shoulders relaxed. 'You are too kind. I am sure that the Prince will have eyes only for his betrothed this eve,' Valia replied as sweetly as she possibly could. 'Thank you again for your help,' Valia told the lady before walking to Elowen who standing at her open door, beckoning for Valia to join her.
The Queen linked arms with Valia as they exited her chambers, following behind Silia and Cithien who were a few steps ahead of them. A generous amount of candles were lit along the passageways, spilling a bright light into the halls to make up for the lack of sunlight in the night sky. Several elves shared the hallway with them, growing in number as they moved closer to the main hall where the dancing was being held at. There was a dazzling array of costumes, each made with the finest materials and embellished with embroidery, gems, and jewelry. It was a testament to the prosperity and general success that had flourished after the elves had departed Middle-earth and taken up residence in Aman. Elowen had been correct when she said that most of the dresses the other elf ladies would be wearing were far more extravagant than Valia's own. Valia could almost feel that she was underdressed next to many of the elven ladies that walked down the hallways with her.
As if sensing her thoughts, Elowen bent her head towards Valia. 'You look quite stunning, my dear,' she told Valia softly.
'I have not worn an outfit this expensive in centuries,' Valia admitted, running a gloved hand down the skirt of her dress.
'It suits you well, all the same.'
Valia flashed a smile at the Queen as the sound of soft music could now be heard floating in the air, mixing with the lilting voices of the elves around her. 'I do not think it would be so impressive if I wore such things every day.'
'Perhaps not,' Elowen accepted, nodding as the great wooden doors of the ballroom came into view. 'However,' and here she leaned closer to Valia and touched a hand to the pin fastened in Valia's hair, 'I think that Legolas would be disinclined to agree with you.'
Two finely shaped eyebrows arched over Valia's mask as she turned questioning eyes on the Queen. So Elowen had known that the pin had been a gift from her son, then. If Valia would have thought a little harder about it before, she realized that Elowen probably would have known about the pin since Elowen had told her that Legolas had given his parents a thorough account of all that had transpired between Valia and himself in Earsilme.
Valia was spared the work of coming up with an appropriate reply immediately as a dark haired couple walked up to Elowen, making a small obeisance to her. After such formalities as were required had been met, the couple, who Valia learned were Vanyar, thanked Elowen for her kind hospitality they had received during the banquet.
Not paying much attention after that, Valia simply let Elowen continue to guide her towards the embellished doors of the dancing hall, which had images of various forested areas in Aman carved into their smooth surfaces. The sound of dancing and laughing could now be heard in the hall, and in a few more steps Valia could see the large crowd that had all ready gathered in the main room from her position at the entrance.
Looking in, Valia was met with a sight that made her breath hitch in her throat. The room was full of the finest clothes Aman had to offer. Superior materials arrayed the figures of elves, who were in various states of activity. Some danced, while others reclined amidst the comfortable seating lined along the outside of the room, listening to tales or simply talking with each other. The room resembled a field of the brightest wildflowers, so vibrant and diverse were the colors of the costumes everyone wore. Feathers and furs, jewels and fine metals graced the elves in the room as if such finery was as common as grains of sand upon the shore.
It was truly an impressive sight, made even more stunning by the costumes themselves, which were as diverse as the colors in the room. From her spot at the entrance, which was raised above the dance floor that was reached from the front entrance by a set of wide marble stairs that descended downwards, Valia could make out the menagerie of costumes. There were birds, animals, flowering plants and trees, beings that lived only in legends and stories, and even a few who were daring enough to wear some costume that resembled those of men and dwarves.
'Absolutely amazing,' Valia breathed in awe, her gaze sweeping over the opulence of the elven costumes, matched only by the decorations of the room. It was obvious that nothing had been sparred for the joyous occasion. Crystal chandeliers hung from the gilded ceiling, illuminating the room with the light from the candles reflecting off their glassy surface. Silk tapestries softened the walls, many of which pooled on the floor of crème marble below. Against the opposite wall, a set of large doors opened onto the green lawn outside where a group of elven minstrels had taken up their residence for the evening to provide their companions with music to dance to. Padded chairs and couches spilling over with a wealth of stuffed pillows were prolific around the edge of the dance floor and in the far corner on a raised platform resided two thrones, one of which was all ready occupied by King Thranduil. He wore an outfit that matched his Queen's, and he shone silver under the light of the room.
Seated next to him on a tall stool, sat an elf clad in green robes of a rich fabric that exceeded even those of the others in the room. They shimmered with a light that looked as if stardust had been sprinkled on them in a generous heaping, and the light weight of the material gave the outfit a whimsical look.
The dance was supposed to be a Masquerade, but Valia easily recognized the elf to be none other than Legolas.
'A wood nymph suits him well, do you not think?' Elowen asked from her side, the Vanyar elves having departed several moments ago. The Queen had turned to find Valia observing the room spread out below her, and she had been content to watch Valia as elves slipped around them and down the stairs like a living river of water streaming past their stationary forms.
Valia's eyes blinked closed at the unexpected intrusion, but she smiled and quickly turned her head to look at Elowen. 'I am sorry? What was that?'
'Legolas,' Elowen smiled back, gesturing to the platform where her husband and son were stationed. 'You know,' she continued, cocking her head and sweeping her gaze pointedly over Valia's costume, 'you two nearly match. Is that not interesting?'
Interesting? That was a mild way of putting it, Valia decided as she pursed her lips and her lidded gaze flew to Legolas again before coming back to Elowen.
And then Valia was rendered entirely incapable of responding by a sudden thought that had never occurred to her before that moment. Looking back, she realized that she should have noticed long before. It has been glaringly obvious. Ever since she had arrived in Laiquarille, Legolas' parents had been pushing her towards Legolas. It had been subtle, but not nearly so faint that she should have been blind to their delicate prodding.
The King and Queen wanted Legolas and Valia to spend time together. They wanted to cultivate any lingering affection that remained between them.
Valia just managed to stop herself from sucking in a sharp, but much needed lungful of air.
'Are you alright, Valia?' Elowen asked in concern. 'You seem rather pale.'
'Fine,' Valia replied brightly. It was only afterwards when Elowen glanced questioningly at her that Valia knew that she had put a little too much sunshine into her reply. 'I am fine,' she tried to reassure the Queen again, this time softening her reply into a response that was more demure.
Elowen squeezed her arm in understanding, though Valia was not sure if the Queen completely understood what she was feeling at the moment. 'I must go speak with my husband, Valia. Do you want to accompany me or is there something else you would rather do?'
'I will be fine on my own, thank you,' Valia told Elowen. 'Besides, I think I see Silia and Cithien over there with Isondil and Glorfindel.'
'Very well.' What Elowen did next took Valia somewhat by surprise as she was pulled into the embrace of the Queen, who then placed an affectionate kiss on her cheek. 'You look wonderful, my dear. Have fun tonight.'
'Thank you,' Valia replied as Elowen released her and quickly glided down the grand staircase without losing any of her grace in her swift speed.
Valia waited a moment, a lone figure standing against the pull of the others around her, before she followed the costumed guests down the stairs. As she weaved in and out of the dancers and groups of elves along the edges of the dance floor to join her group of friends, Valia was aware of the energy in the air. It pulsated around her, quickening her pulse as a soft fluttering began in her stomach.
Something was going to happen tonight, something special. She could feel it, almost taste it in the strange air around her. With flushed cheeks and shining eyes, Valia slowly drew closer to where her friends stood, ready for whatever might happen this night.
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Vanyar- Elves who made the first journey to Aman and never returned to Middle-earth again like the Noldor and Teleri
A/N- Hello all. I have made a CAST PAGE for this story that is still in the workings, but you can all ready see several of the characters there (including Valia, Elowen, Silia, and Cithien). The link can be accessed at my bio page :)